Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Growing Gap
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After slaying Andras, we set off in search of our next prey.
But.
“Somehow, we ended up catching the Death Knight and the bastard who made it.”
“...Y-Yeah, looks like it.”
“Honestly, I was worried the whole time before we got there, but we’re stronger than I thought. Taking down Andras without a scratch.”
“...Impressive, huh?”
For some reason, the party’s reactions felt off.
Their responses were half-hearted, and they kept sneaking glances at me.
“What’s up with everyone? Is there something you want to say?”
When I couldn’t hold back and asked first, they finally started speaking one by one.
“...Well, you see, Top Ranker. That fight from earlier keeps replaying in my head.”
“The fight earlier? You mean with Andras?”
“Yeah.”
Thompson nodded with a curt reply.
But I had no idea what he was getting at.
‘What about the fight?’
From my perspective, it was just a typical battle, no different from usual.
But apparently not for Thompson, who suddenly dropped a bombshell.
“Honestly, the Top Ranker felt way too strong to me.”
“Too strong?”
“Yeah. Even if I went all out, it felt like I couldn’t even touch your toes... something like that?”
“What do you...”
I asked again, not quite understanding, and Thompson kindly explained.
That from the moment the battle with Andras began, he had fought with everything he had.
In other words, he hadn’t held back at all.
Somewhat shocked, I looked at the other companions.
“...You guys too? You all fought full throttle?”
“Yeah, it didn’t seem like an opponent we could beat holding back.”
“...Funny story, but I did the same. If I was gonna hold back, I wouldn’t have even activated this artifact.”
“Huh.”
Their reactions suggested they were the same as Thompson.
By then, the shock had grown considerably.
‘They weren’t holding back?’
Clearly, until I gave the signal, they hadn’t even attacked—they were barely defending.
It meant we were in a situation where Andras was overwhelmingly dominating us.
‘I thought they were obviously going easy...’
But that wasn’t the case?
Then how do I explain the mood flipping the instant I gave the signal?
When I voiced that doubt, Thompson let out a deep sigh.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Truth is, you took down that guy all by yourself, right, Top Ranker? We didn’t do jack.”
“...”
Hearing it laid out like that, yeah, it was true.
The party hadn’t really contributed to finishing off Andras.
“...But you guys took down that underling of his.”
“Taking out that nothing burger—what’s so hard about that?”
Not wrong there either.
With three of them teaming up, handling that one should’ve been a breeze.
Once my thoughts reached that point, the mystery only deepened.
‘Does that mean I’m really leagues stronger than my companions...?’
Previously, the gap hadn’t been that big.
We’d grown through similar processes, after all.
But what had changed in the meantime?
Unable to resolve the lingering question, we eventually decided to test it out.
By actually hunting some demons ourselves.
“Then this time, everyone goes all out.”
“Okay.”
“Whew.”
I took a deep breath and immediately attacked the guy in front of me.
First up was the [Teleport] spell.
Flash!
Following that, I cloaked myself in light magic and swung my sword of light.
Slash-!
The mid-tier demon, [Hell Ghoul], had its head cleanly severed.
Instant kill.
I did that much, then spun around immediately.
This batch of [Hell Ghouls] we’d run into was luckily grouped four strong...
“...They’re all still alive.”
Contrary to expectations, my companions were still locked in fierce combat with the Hell Ghouls.
Roar! Burst! Slash!
Kayla blasting fire magic, Thompson lunging for heads, Barundel jamming the [Ash Pendant] into vital spots.
Setting the outcome aside for now, I first observed the flow of battle.
To accurately gauge just how much power my companions wielded.
“Grr... Gaaah.”
Before long, the [Hell Ghouls] started dropping one by one, and my conclusion was this.
‘They’re strong.’
My companions were strong.
This level was plenty enough to join a demon world expedition.
However, if the comparison was to me?
‘...Definitely slower. I can see the flaws too.’
That changed everything.
There was a pretty significant gap in skill.
To the point where it felt like an invisible wall separated their fights from mine.
Did that mean my companions had gotten weaker?
‘No.’
It was just that I’d grown too fast.
That’s what I realized this time.
Of course, there was no way this happened without reason.
Fortunately, I had a hunch.
“Erebos.”
I pulled my companions back for a moment and woke Erebos, who was snoozing plastered to my shoulder.
“Yawwn... Why call me, Contractor?”
“Let’s spar.”
Whoosh!
Without another word, I shoved Erebos away and drew up my mana.
“...Making a fuss again.”
He rubbed his sleepy eyes.
But contrary to his actions, his darkness was already in motion.
Swoosh!
Darkness lunging at me at terrifying speed.
Something I’d experienced dozens of times over, so my body moved before I could think.
Whoosh!
I dropped low, and his darkness barely missed.
At the same time, I planted a hand on the ground and sent darkness at Erebos.
Ssssh!
Darkness crawling fast like it was swimming underground.
The moment it touched, a gruesome maw would pop out and swallow Erebos whole.
Knowing he wouldn’t just take it, I layered on a few extras.
Fwoosh!
Opened darkness voids on both sides sucking everything in to restrict his movement, and launched ten thread-like strands of split [Swimming Light] at the sky.
On top of that, [Teleport] magic to swing my sword right at him.
At a glance, no escape.
But.
“Fun as always, Contractor.”
Erebos spoke leisurely and flicked his hand.
Dozens of darkness tendrils shot out around him.
Crunch! Cruuunch!
The underground darkness, [Swimming Light], even the spatial magic on the sides.
All shattered by his extended darkness.
In the midst of it, Erebos turned.
Twirl-
Smack!
His claw shot out faster than my swing, stopping right in front of my nose.
“...”
Swish swish-.
I clamped my mouth shut, and darkness from his claw gently stroked my head.
Like petting something cute.
“You’ve improved a lot. As expected of this one’s Contractor. Put in another hundred years of effort, and you might match me.”
What bravado.
“...Whatever.”
What mattered now was elsewhere, so I turned my gaze.
There stood my companions, watching the spar with blank faces...
Their expressions gave me a rough idea, but I asked anyway.
“How big’s the gap seem?”
“...”
For some reason, no answer came for a while.
***
After the spar with Erebos, an even thicker awkwardness hung over our party.
We’d confirmed Thompson’s words were true.
‘This is awkward. I thought we were growing together.’
Obviously not the outcome I’d intended.
It was just that sparring with Erebos had been more effective than expected.
Of course, it was good news, but if the gap with my companions widened too much, that’d be trouble.
‘Can’t slow my growth pace for that, though.’
My top priority was still rapid growth to take down Baal.
No matter how important traveling with companions was, I couldn’t throttle my own progress.
So what to do?
As I pondered.
‘Hold on.’
A good idea hit me.
‘Just share an efficient growth method?’
If sparring with Erebos led to this, have the others spar with him too.
They’d improve by leaps and bounds like me.
And everyone getting stronger? Best of both worlds.
With that in mind, I cautiously spoke up.
“Hey, Erebos.”
“Hm? What is it.”
“Would you mind sparring with the other companions too, if it’s okay?”
“...Sparring?”
Erebos tilted his head with a subtle expression.
Unfortunately, not a yes.
“My contract is only to lend power to my Contractor. No need to care about the others.”
“Not lending power—just spar occasionally.”
“Still no. Annoying enough as is—why add more hassle?”
‘Stingy as ever?’
Grumbling aside, I racked my brain for a way to move him.
Fortunately, I had one.
“If you do, I’ll give you free time. One hour a day.”
Something I’d promised Erebos not long after contracting.
In uncertain places like this where danger could strike anywhere, he absolutely couldn’t leave my side.
That’s why Erebos had been utterly drained lately.
Having to stick right by me without a moment’s break.
Whether from boredom or whatever, he’d been sleeping nonstop.
This proposal was definitely something he’d welcome.
As expected.
“R-Really, Contractor?”
Erebos’s face lit up.
“That’s what I said. Deal? Spar a few times, get free time—it’s a steal.”
“Hmmmmm...”
Erebos quickly turned serious, striking a thinking pose.
Of course, I’d seen that glow on his face, so no worries.
As expected, Erebos nodded.
“Fine! I accept gladly!”
“Okay. No backing out later.”
“I never lie!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
And so, I secured Erebos’s permission.
Now just needed the companions’ okay.
I didn’t drag it out and asked them one by one right away.
“What? Spar with that guy? Me?”
“Whew... No easy task, that.”
“If the Top Ranker says so, I’ll do it! ...But you sure it’s fine?”
Naturally, they were all thrown at first.
Having just shown them that kind of spar, then asking them to do it? Fair reaction.
But.
“...Got it, I’ll try.”
“Still, seems like it’ll help build skill a ton.”
“Better than doing nothing and being dead weight!”
Without much convincing, the companions accepted.
Eyes full of enthusiasm, too.
‘Perfect.’
That eased my mind.
As long as they sparred with Erebos, they’d get way stronger than now.
‘Next after Baal.’
Just how far could they grow?
With curious anticipation, we stepped off with lighter strides.